On the runway to SUCCESS April 27, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Cristobal Lowery, founder of GigaFare, which aims to bring algorithmic trading to the airline industry ARE ENTREPRENEURS born or made? In the age-old debate, Cristobal Lowery – the chirpy 20-something who founded his first company straight out of university – makes a compelling case for the former. In 2010, he created [...]
UK innovators beat the US for optimism but challenges remain April 27, 2014 TODAY, Silicon Valley Bank releases Innovation Economy Outlook 2014, its annual global survey of more than 1,200 executives of fast-growth software, hardware, cleantech and healthcare companies. It offers food for thought for entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. Thankfully, the main course is a feast of optimism, although challenges remain. Many stereotypes are rooted in fact – [...]
Gimme 5 April 27, 2014 …EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LONDON AND THE SOUTH FINALISTS Aldermore The private equity-backed UK bank provides retail and SME savings accounts, commercial and residential mortgages, and asset and invoice finance. Founded by Phillip Monks, it has operated in the UK since 2009. aldermore.co.uk Cote Restaurants Operator of 47 casual dining restaurants across the UK, [...]
The Iron Brady April 14, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to sporting executive-turned TV star Karren Brady – the Conservative Party’s ambassador for UK small businesses SHE IS known as the First Lady of Football, but Karren Brady’s list of accolades extends far beyond the beautiful game. Wikipedia describes Brady as a sporting executive, novelist, author, TV broadcaster and columnist. And as [...]
The MBA myth: Why business schools are failing entrepreneurs April 14, 2014 WHEN I was 20 years old, I quit my undergraduate degree to become Skype’s first employee. It was an easy choice – trading in the stuffy lecture hall to change the world at an exciting startup. Seven years later, I went back to the classroom, studying for an MBA at the business school Insead. Since [...]
Gimme 5 April 14, 2014 …STARTUPS CROWDFUNDING THIS MONTH Humble Grape Target: £250,000 for 15 per cent An existing and profitable wine merchant and events company raising funds to take the brand to the high street. Raised £308,000 via Seedrs Expires before 10 June Bikini Fling Target: £120,000 for 16 per cent Swimwear brand that enables customers to mix and [...]
Playing the long game April 6, 2014 In 1997, Pokeware co-founder Maryse Liburdi was convinced her idea had potential. It took over a decade for the world to catch up. She tells Annabel Palmer why perseverance is the key to success IT WAS the nineties – a time when VCRs were present in most living rooms and pager sales were booming – [...]
Gimme 5 April 6, 2014 …UPCOMING EVENTS FOR ENTREPRENEURS FinTech Pitch Day 8 April, 9am-6pm Selected teams will pitch for five minutes to a panel of experienced coaches. Speed-dating sessions with the mentors later in the day will offer “valuable” personalised feedback. startupbootcamp.org/events StartUp Saturday 26 April, 10am-3pm Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones hosts a “friendly” one-day startup class for [...]
The tech whizz who still has faith in the trusty telephone March 30, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Paul Lees, the ex-BT programme manager who co-founded the conference call firm for SMEs Powwownow WANDER down any street and it will instantly become clear just how far the telecoms industry has changed in the past decade. A growing minority of households has now gone mobile-only, in Britain and elsewhere. But [...]
Down to a Fine Art March 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Patrick van der Vorst, the ex-Sotheby’s art expert who used a £100,000 investment from Dragons Den to build online valuation service Value My Stuff THE INTERNATIONAL art market is having a ball, as investors flock to the perceived safer asset. A Sotheby’s sale last month totalled £163m, with demand coming from [...]